Roller basket finishing attachment

Abstract

A finishing attachment for a tillage implement has a support arm configured to mount to the frame so that a long dimension of the support arm extends in a fore-aft direction of the implement. A cross-bar having a long dimension extending transverse to the fore-aft direction is coupled to a free end of the support arm. A roller basket is mounted to the cross-bar for rotation with respect to the cross-bar. A pivot bracket couples the free end of the support arm to the cross-bar. The pivot bracket forms a pivot axis extending substantially in the fore-aft direction of travel about which the roller basket pivots.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A finishing attachment for a tillage implement having a frame supporting tillage tools and supported by ground-engaging wheels, the finishing attachment comprising:
 a support arm configured to mount to the frame so that a long dimension of the support arm extends in a fore-aft direction of the implement; 
 a cross-bar having a long dimension extending transverse to the fore-aft direction and coupled to a free end of the support arm; 
 a roller basket mounted to the cross-bar for rotation with respect to the cross-bar; and 
 a pivot bracket coupling the free end of the support arm to the cross-bar, the pivot bracket forms a pivot axis extending substantially in the fore-aft direction of travel about which the roller basket pivots with respect to the support arm. 
 
     
     
       2. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm is configured so that side loads applied to the roller basket cause the support arm to flex and move the roller basket in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       3. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , further including:
 a second support arm configured to mount to the frame spaced from the support arm in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction and with a long dimension of the second support arm extending in the fore-aft direction; and 
 a second pivot bracket coupling a free end of the second support arm to the cross-bar and defining a second pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis. 
 
     
     
       4. The finishing attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the second support arm is configured so that side loads applied to the roller basket cause the second support arm to flex and move the roller basket in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       5. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , wherein there are multiple roller baskets coupled for rotation to the cross-bar. 
     
     
       6. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a mounting end of the support arm is pivotally connected with respect to the frame to pivot about a pivot axis extending in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       7. The finishing attachment of  claim 6 , further including an actuator cylinder applying a force to pivot the support arm about the pivot axis in at least one direction. 
     
     
       8. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-bar is coupled to the support arm and the roller basket forward of the roller basket in the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       9. The finishing attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm is a monolithic spring steel member. 
     
     
       10. A tillage implement, comprising:
 a frame supported by ground-engaging wheels; 
 a plurality of tillage tools mounted to the frame; 
 a support arm mounted to the frame so that a long dimension extends in a fore-aft direction of the implement and is pivotal about a pivot axis that extends in a direction transverse to the fore-aft direction; 
 a cross-bar having a long dimension extending in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction and coupled to a free end of the support arm; 
 a roller basket mounted to the cross-bar for rotation with respect to the cross-bar; and 
 a pivot bracket coupling the free end of the support arm to the cross-bar, the pivot bracket forms a pivot axis extending substantially in the fore-aft direction of travel about which the roller basket pivots with respect to the support arm. 
 
     
     
       11. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , wherein the support arm is configured so that side loads applied to the roller basket cause the support arm to flex and move the roller basket in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       12. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , further including:
 a second support arm mounted to the frame spaced from the support arm in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction and with a long dimension extending in the fore-aft direction; and 
 a second pivot bracket coupling a free end of the second support arm to the cross-bar and defining a second pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis. 
 
     
     
       13. The tillage implement of  claim 12 , wherein the second support arm is configured so that side loads applied to the roller basket cause the second support arm to flex and move the roller basket in the direction transverse to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       14. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , wherein there are multiple roller baskets coupled for rotation to the cross-bar. 
     
     
       15. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , further including an actuator cylinder applying a force to pivot the support arm about the pivot axis in at least one direction. 
     
     
       16. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , wherein the cross-bar is coupled to the support arm and the roller basket forward of the roller basket in the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
       17. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , wherein the support arm is a monolithic spring steel member. 
     
     
       18. The tillage implement of  claim 10 , further including a harrow arrangement supported by the implement frame and disposed between the frame and the roller basket with respect to the fore-aft direction, wherein the harrow arrangement includes:
 a harrow drawbar mounted to the frame; 
 at least one harrow rank having a rank bar rigidly supporting a plurality of harrowing tools; and 
 a pivot link pivotally coupling the at least one harrow rank to the drawbar to allow the at least one harrow rank to trip by pivoting upward toward the drawbar from a home position in which the at least one harrow rank is farthest away from the drawbar. 
 
     
     
       19. The tillage implement of  claim 18 , wherein the frame has a plurality of frame members including fore-aft frame members extending in the fore-aft direction; and
 wherein the drawbar is mounted to one of the fore-aft frame members so that a long dimension of the drawbar extends in the fore-aft direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The tillage implement of  claim 19 , wherein the support arm is pivotally connected to the drawbar.